18. Neural Control and Coordination
The neural system plays a vital role in coordinating and integrating functions of various organs, maintaining homeostasis, and processing information. Neurons, as the functional units of the neural system, are excitable cells that transmit nerve impulses through a series of electrical changes. The chapter details the structure of the human nervous system, including the central and peripheral systems, and explains the mechanisms of nerve impulse generation and transmission at synapses.
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What we have learnt
- Neurons are specialized cells responsible for transmitting impulses throughout the body.
- The human neural system is divided into the central neural system (CNS) and peripheral neural system (PNS).
- Nerve impulses are transmitted via synapses, which can be electrical or chemical in nature.
Key Concepts
- -- Neuron
- A specialized cell of the nervous system that can detect, receive, and transmit nerve impulses.
- -- Central Neural System (CNS)
- The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for processing information.
- -- Peripheral Neural System (PNS)
- The part of the nervous system that includes all the nerves outside the CNS, responsible for relaying information between the CNS and the rest of the body.
- -- Synapse
- The junction between two neurons, allowing for the transmission of impulses via neurotransmitters.
- -- Resting Potential
- The electrical potential difference across a neuron's membrane when it is not conducting an impulse.
- -- Action Potential
- A rapid electrical change in a neuron that occurs when it is stimulated, leading to the transmission of a nerve impulse.
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